12th August

Hard work in blazing sun and increasing heat today - especially as there didn't seem to be a lot about to make the toil worthwhile. Decent numbers of Swifts - including at least 100 over the Bill - passed through overhead, but amongst the passerines only Wheatear managed a double figure total at the Bill; a Redstart dropped in at Sweethill and a Knot was new at Ferrybridge but there was little else of note amongst the thin scatter of other migrants. Three Balearics and a single Manx Shearwater were the highlights from some very slow seawatching.

Redstart © Debby Saunders...

...and Knot © Pete Saunders were the best of today's migrants:

We've touched on this before what a great little crossroads Ferrybridge is right in the midst of all manner of migrant wader comings and goings: this Ringed Plover that was there yesterday was ringed as a large nestling on 28 May this year at Wilhelminapolder in the southwest Netherlands; we still get really excited by the fact that other ring-readings there have shown us that, for example, amongst the 100 or so Ringed Plovers on the mud at Ferrybridge during August there might be birds present that hatched in nests at Ferrybridge itself but also in other places as far apart as a glacier-carved valley in Arctic Canada and a polder in the Netherlands - isn't that fantastic? Thanks Sander Lilipaly for being so prompt with the ringing details of yesterday's bird © Pete Saunders: 

11th August

A nice selection of migrants on offer again today although numbers were a little down on yesterday and activities were somewhat curtailed when heavy cloud rolled in during the afternoon that led eventually to a showery and even at times thundery evening. The likes of 5 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Tree Pipits and singles of Greenshank, Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Warbler were the best of the grounded/overflying selection at the Bill, where 80 Swallows and 50 Sand Martins provided the two highest totals on offer. Despite seemingly suitable conditions for an arrival, wader numbers remained stubbornly static at Ferrybridge. At the Bill, an impromptu Storm Petrel luring session after midnight - 4 were trapped and plenty more seen - revealed their continuing presence offshore but by day the sea the quiet, with 40 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua the best of the migrants; a random Black Swan also floated past close inshore off East Cliffs.

We're hoping that the dearth of wader passage is further evidence of a good breeding season but for the time being those that are about at Ferrybridge like these Sanderlings are well settled and showing nicely in the current balmy conditions © Pete Saunders:

watched this tree pipit feeding to the sides of the track down to the RN cemetery. very little in the way of birds there or the common, just a single migrant willow warbler

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM

looks like autumn ladies tresses have been out for a few days already at verne common, reasonable numbers but not great specimens on the parched field

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM

10th August

A decent little flurry of migrants today that were enjoyed in the most pleasant calm, sunny and warm conditions - what was not to like! The day's oddest event came early when a party of 14 Greylag Geese arrived in off the sea at the Bill before the sun had even risen. Grounded and overflying migrants were quickly in evidence, with final totals from the Bill that included 65 Swallows, 54 Sand Martins, 50 Swifts, 40 Willow Warblers, 30 Wheatears, 25 Sedge Warblers, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Sanderlings, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, a Dunlin and a Turnstone. Further up island a Serin was a very unexpected fly-by at Sweethill - we can't recollect a previous August record for the island - whilst, bar a modest increase in Ringed Plovers, the Ferrybridge waders totals remained much as they have done for the last week or more. In near-millpond conditions not much was expected from the sea and the only rewards off the Bill were 34 Sandwich Terns, 11 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Mallards and a Manx Shearwater.

9th August

There's nowt so strange as how migration often unfolds at 'out on a limb' places like Portland and today provided yet another example when the second Melodious Warbler of the week pitched up at the Obs on a day that was one of the poorest for commoner migrant so far this early autumn. What limited arrivals there were there included 12 Wheatears, 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Ringed Plover and a Tree Pipit, with 5 grounded Yellow-legged Gulls of which at least some were clearly lingerers. The sea wasn't a lot better: 150 Kittiwakes made up the bulk of the numbers, with 13 Balearic Shearwaters and 4 Arctic Skuas the best of the quality.

Another Melodious Warbler just trapped at the Obs. Only the second migrant trapped all morning - quite happy if the scarce ratio remains at this level all autumn.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM

5 juv Yellow-legged Gulls at Portland Bill below Culverwell this afternoon. Pics of 2 individuals.

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— luvaducksbutt.bsky.social (@luvaducksbutt.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM

First presumed home-bred Small Marbled the pick of a modest selection of migrants in the Obs moth-traps - many of the others migrants also fresh and dark so likely not to be coming from very far away

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 10:18 AM

8th August

Migration action's ebbed away a little as this week's gone on and today's migrant tally from the Bill that included Wheatear and Willow Warbler on 25 apiece, 20 Sand Martins, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 each of Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit was nothing to get excited about. The sea fared little better, with 11 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 Arctic Skuas off the Bill hardly compensated for some all too long profoundly dead spells. It will get better again.

Visitors to the blog might recall that a little while ago (25th-28th July) we were fortunate enough to trap some Bedstraw Hawkmoths - two at the Obs and another in John Lucas' garden at Southwell. At least one of them looked as though it was a female so we kept them confined for a while and eggs were duly laid before the moths were released:

The eggs begun hatching after about a week, with the first instar caterpillars being c3mm long:

After five more days the first caterpillars have now moulted and have grown to c7mm. We'll keep you posted as their development proceeds © Martin Cade:

Still only slowly ticking over for migrant moths - last night's Obs totals typical of the week as the whole although a Convolvulus Hawk was an on cue first for the year

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM

7th August

A day best forgotten: the cool, dreary and increasingly blustery conditions were completely uninspiring and did nothing for the quality of the birding. There were a handful of grounded migrants about including 5 Yellow-legged Gulls at the Bill, but amongst the commoner fare only Wheatear and Willow Warbler managed double figure totals on the ground there, with a single Tree Pipit all there was of note overhead. An early flurry of 33 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters through off the Bill gave hope for sea but interest there entirely fizzled out as the day went on.

The daily sight of Bluefin Tuna has added a hitherto undreamt of dimension to autumn seawatching at the Bill; however, they remain staggeringly difficult to get a decent photo of so this effort today is certainly to be commended © Duncan Walbridge:

Yellow-legged Gull fix from this evening. 1 of 3 seen below Culverwell at Portland Bill. There had been 5 seen earlier, before I got there. Very much scarcer this Autumn in our area, so far. A smart individual this. Plus, cracking views of Barn Owl later on.

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— luvaducksbutt.bsky.social (@luvaducksbutt.bsky.social) August 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM

Wakeham this afternoon and my first ever Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi). More videos and photos on portandwey.blogspot.com/2025/08/7-au...

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— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) August 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM

6th August

It was certainly a pleasure to be out birding on such a nice still day and there was the added bonus of there actually being a few birds to get amongst. The departure of Willow Warblers in particular continued apace, with a good 100 at the Bill where other migrant activity was a little subdued but did include firsts for the season in the form of 2 Tree Pipits and the first 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks; overhead passage was very disappointing, with most Swifts probably already having gone and hirundines choosing not to make the most of apparently suitable conditions. An uptick in our seawatch wellbeing was occasioned by an arrival of Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill - there are still an awful lot more across on the other side of Lyme Bay but a minimum of 110 through to the east and some rafting during the evening were a welcome sight. Gannets continued to feature in unexpected numbers, with 2000 or more through, whilst 80 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Arctic Skuas and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were of further note offshore.

Two likely Risso's Dolphins off the Bill weren't in view quite long enough to be fully clinched but, bearing in mind that so many dolphins have been lingering about this summer, will be well worth keeping an eye out for.

A few of the Balearic Shearwaters and a bonus group of Common Dolphins off the Bill this evening ©  Martin Cade:

Nice morning at the Bill: 2 Tree Pipits and a juv Sparrowhawk - both quite early firsts for the autumn; good drop of Willow Warblers on the ground + 1000 Gannets and 50 Balearics thru on the sea.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 6, 2025 at 8:23 AM

5th August

The fact that the day had been pretty much of a dud rather paled into insignificance when, late in the afternoon, the first Melodious Warbler for a couple of years popped up in a mist-net at the Obs. With yesterday's turbulence being slow to completely clear through, the day's other migrant interest at the Bill consisted of no more than 40 Willow Warblers, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Wheatears, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Turnstone; there were equally slim pickings elsewhere with, for example, 8 Sanderlings and another Yellow-legged Gull the best on offer at Ferrybridge. The sea was even quieter, with just singles of Balearic Shearwater and Arctic Skua through off the Bill.

Today's Melodious Warbler - Portland's classic 'hot, sunny afternoon in August' bird. Since the island's first in 1954 - which at that time was only about the tenth for Britain - there have been a minimum of 236 more here. Although that works out at an average of a little over three per year, the stats tell us that numbers gradually increased to reach a peak in the late 70s/early 80s when there were several annual totals of well into double figures; however, since that time numbers have steadily fallen away again © Martin Cade:

And something that you get the impression hadn't even evolved in 1954 - did Yellow-legged Gulls occur back then but nobody noticed them or realised what they were? This is this morning's bird at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:

5th August

What a difference a year makes: this time last year local waters were awash with shearwaters, with every minor blow producing the likes of Cory's Shearwaters amongst multitudes of Manx and Balearics. In disappointing contrast, this autumn's first decent blow - Storm Floris hit way to the north but its influence saw the wind gusting up towards gale force far a time during the afternoon - did just about nothing for us, with 15 Manx and 5 Balearic Shearwaters about as good as it got off the Bill; Gannets did start moving in quantity, with up to 500 per hour heading east during the peak of the wind, but little else of any note troubled the scorers. There were birds about on the land but it was difficult to get amongst them and a lone lingering Reed Warbler provided the only interest amongst the scatter of commoner fare at the Bill.

3rd August

Increasingly blustery westerlies seemed to have put the block on things today and it was quiet on land and sea. A sprinkle of new arrivals on the ground at the Bill included 20 Willow Warblers and 5 Sedge Warblers, whilst a lingering Redstart from a couple of days ago also popped up again; waders were largely unchanged, with 10 Sanderlings the best at Ferrybridge where a Yellow-legged Gull also dropped in and a Canada Goose passed over. Sea passage was almost non-existent, with little more off the Bill than 13 Common Scoter and a Balearic Shearwater.

All of the Yellow-legged Gulls in recent weeks have been juveniles so this older bird at Ferrybridge today was something a bit different © Pete Saunders:

a neatly coloured adonis blue from tout today

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 2, 2025 at 8:31 PM

I couldn't agree more with @mariposanature.bsky.social - this week's #wildflowerhour challenge just HAD to include ice-cream!! Also enjoyed Golden and Rock Samphire, Greater Sea-spurrey, Common Restharrow, Sea Mayweed and one pink Thrift flower hidden amongst deadheads at Portland Bill. #bythesea

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— Sarah (@sarahfaulkner.bsky.social) August 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM

2nd August

Passerine migrants continue to drop in quite plentifully, with today's tally at the Bill consisting of 45 Willow Warblers, 25 Sedge Warblers, 15 Wheatears (their first double figure total this autumn), 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatchers and a Grasshopper Warbler. In contrast, wader passage seems to have ground to a halt, with very little change in the Ferrybridge selection for several days and just singles of Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling at the Bill today. A strong movement of 225 Kittiwakes made up most of the numbers on the sea, with 15 departing Cormorants, 4 Balearic Shearwaters and a Yellow-legged Gull of note amongst what little else was moving.

Sleep deprivation had really begun to take hold earlier this week, what with trying to get amongst an apparent surge in Storm Petrel numbers at the same time as finding ourselves in both a decent vein of early passerine passage and a good run of migrant moths that necessitated more moth-traps being deployed. Whether we manage another Storm Petrel night or two is open to question now that the passerine season is well underway, but the last one during the early hours of Thursday was a bit of a novelty since it was sufficiently blustery that we had to forsake our usual trapping spot near Pulpit Rock for the shelter of the tiny cove under the east side of the Trinity House obelisk. This spot isn't for the faint-hearted since it's full of huge boulders and looks like the recipe for a broken leg when you're stumbling around in the dark; however, since the trapping attempt is at virtually sea level it did afford fantastic thermal imager views of the petrels:

It was also good to be able to glance back and see the Obs lighthouse tower brightly illuminated by the light from the moth-traps © Martin Cade:

1st August

You do wonder just how much more would have been found over the last fortnight or so had there have been anything even approaching adequate coverage of the island as a whole; as it is, the mist-nets at the Bill and cursory attention given to odd hotspots like Ferrybridge have been tapping into one of the best starts to autumn passage for many years and continued to do so today. The only passerine reports came from the Bill/Sweethill, where the season's first Spotted Flycatcher and second Crossbill were the best of the bunch amongst an arrival that also included 60 Willow Warblers, 30 Sedge Warblers and 2 Pied Flycatchers. The sea didn't provide rewards appropriate for the lengthy attention given to it, with 4 Balearic Shearwaters, a Teal and a Sanderling easily the highlights amongst an otherwise very mundane selection from the Bill.

Young have successfully fledged from one Barn Owl breeding site on the island in the last week and we're hoping this adult at another site might also have young about to emerge © Verity Hill:

Couldn't resist this Sanderling in the early morning light at Ferrybridge

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) August 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM

It was distant and through a window but this is the 1st Spotted Flycatcher that we've seen in the garden this year

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) August 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM